Mr. O'Donnell. We had been discussing this for almost 6 or 7 months, but the time had never seemed quite right, either in the Vice President's mind or in Governor Connally's mind. Governor Connally and the Vice President had discussed this. They arrived at a general agreement that it be done some time in the latter part of the month of November. I think this decision probably came in October, some time in October.
Mr. Specter. When had President Kennedy been in Dallas prior to the trip of November 1963?
Mr. O'Donnell. The last time the President had been in Dallas was as a candidate for the Presidency.
I correct myself. He had been to—visit Speaker Rayburn in the hospital. I was not on that trip.
Mr. Specter. Then aside from the trip to see Speaker Rayburn, in the hospital, had the President been in Dallas at all since the campaign of 1960?
Mr. O'Donnell. He had not.
Mr. Specter. Do you know approximately when it was that President Kennedy visited Speaker Rayburn in the hospital in Dallas?
Mr. O'Donnell. I don't know exactly. It would be just before he passed away.
Mr. Specter. Does October 1961 sound about right to you?
Mr. O'Donnell. It sounds about right.